Collapsible table or the like



Feb. 23, 1937. C. GQLDEN `'2,071,928 v CLLAPSIBLE TABLE OR THE LIKE n 4 Filed Aug.v 25, '1934 2' sheets-sheet' 1 IH |I|l gn K 4%;

Illll I Il ATTORNEYS "lnn/ Patented Feb. 23, 1937 y UNETED STATE ATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and improved collapsible table.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a table which can be used as a card-table, and for various other purposes.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a collapsible table of simple and improved construction, which can be collapsed into very small space, and which will be strong and durable when the table is in the collapsed and in the extended position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a table of this type having a rigid and collapsible frame, and a to-p which is made of flexible material,`which can be rolled up. However said top may be made of wood or metal, either rigid or resilient, and a top made of material such as wood or the like, can be made of a plurality of parts, either separate, or connected by hinges, etc.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the following description and drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof.

Fig, l is a bottom View of the improved device, the legs having been turned until they are substantially parallel With the top of the table.

Fig. 2 is a bottom View which is generally similar to Fig. 1, save that Fig. 2 shows the frame partially collapsed, and Fig. l shows the frame fully extended.

Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective View, showing the joint between a pair of end frame members.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View of the table in its fully extended position.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the improved device, showing the frame members in their fully collapsed position.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View on the line S-B of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the improved device, showing the same in its fully collapsed condition, with the top of the table in its rolled-up position.

As shown in Fig, l, the frame of the table comprises two side members I, which are made of wood or any other suitable material. These side members I have legs 2 pivotally connected thereto by means of pivot members 6, and said frame members I have additional legs 3 turnably connected thereto, by means of pivot members 1. When the legs are turned inwardly, the legs-2 are located below the legs 3, and in contact with 'said legs 3. As shown in Fig. 1, the pivots 'I are above pivots 6.

'Ihe two ends of the frame respectively include (Cl. 311-78)A end frame members I4, I5 and end frame members I6 and II.

The end frame members I4 and I5 are connected by a hinge 23, so that said end members I4 and I5 can be moved inwardly from the posi- 5 tion shown in Fig. l, a partial inward movement being shown in Fig. 2. The end frame members I6 and II are connected by a similar hinge 23. When the end frame members I4 and I5 are aligned, their adjacent ends abut each other. 10 The frame member i4 is provided with a projection I8, and this nts into a recess 20 of the frame member I5, when said frame members I4 and I5 are aligned with each other. The end frame member I6 is also provided with a projection Ia, 15 which ts into a recess 2I of the frame member Il, when said frame members I6 and II are aligned with each other. As shown in Fig. 3, the height of the recess 2B is less than the height of the frame member I5, so that the projection I8 forms a tongue which fits quite snugly in the recess 20, thus preventing any relative movement between the frame members I4 and i 5, when said frame members are in the aligned position shown in Fig. 1, save for the inward movement of said frame members i4 and I5 which is illustrated in Fig. 2.

The frame members I4 and i5 are generally identical in construction and operation with the frame members i6 and II. 30

Each of the end frame members I4, I5, IS and II, is connected to the corresponding side frame member I, by means of a hinge 24. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the ends of said end frame members abut the corresponding edges of the side frame members I.

As shown in Fig. 4, each of the legs of the table is associated with a brace 4, each brace being pivotally connected to a frame member I, by means of an arm or bracket 5. Said member 5 is made oi any suitable metal, and it is suitably connected to the frame member I.

Each said metal brace 4 is provided with a slot 32. Each of the legs is provided with a headed pin 3l, whose shank can slide in said slot 32. 45 The shank of each said pin 3l slides in the slots 32 with suicient friction, so that-said braces serve to hold the legs of the table in' the extended position which is shown in Fig. 4. Likewise, the ends of said slots 32 can be provided with enlarge- 50 ments, so as to detachably engage the shanks of pins 3l, it being noted that this detail of construction is old and well-known. l

In order to collapse the table, the end frame members I4, I5, and I6 and I'I, are pushed in- 55 wardly, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Before this is done, the legs are also pushed inwardly, so that they occupy the position shown in Fig. 2.

When the frame is fully collapsed, the adjacent edges of the side frame members I abut each other. The projection I8 is then located in recess 2 I, and projection Ia is located in recess 20.

The top 8 of the table is made of any Suitable flexible material, such as water-proof cloth or the like, and the top of the table also has an inside liner 9, which is made of any flexible material.

As shown in Fig. l, the side edges of the top 8 and of liner 9 are inturned, so as to provide inf.`

turned portions IIa, and said inturned portions IIa are connected by means of stitches, so as to form pockets II. Reinforcing slats I0 have their ends located and held in said pockets II. These slats are made of any suitable rigid or flexible material, such as bendable or resilientwoodor metal, and since they are parallel to the frame members I, said slats I0 can be designated as longitudinal slats. An additional reinforcing member I6a, made of wood or other suitable material, is pivotally connected at 22 to the central slat Ill. When the device is in the extended position, the member la is located as shown in Fig. 1, and perpendicular to the members I0. In such position, the ends of the reinforcing member Ia, substantially abuts the edges of the frame members I.

When the device is tobe collapsed, the member IIia is turned, until it is aligned with the central slat I0. The width of the member Ia is preferably a little less than that of the central slat I0.

This. construction provides a strong and rigid table when the device is extended, while permitting the ready collapse of the table into a very small space.

When the device has been. fully collapsed, this being the position which is generally shown in Fig. 5 and. Fig. 6, the legs 3 are located between the legs 2 and the end frame members. 'Ihese parts may closely abut each other, in order to increase the strength of the device, when the frame has been fully collapsed.

The flexible members 8 and 9 can then be bent or rolled wholly or partially around the collapsed,

frame, this being illustrated in Fig. 7.

The longitudinal edges of the members 8 and 9 are connected to the tops of the frame members I, by any suitable` fastening members. These fastening members I2 and I3 are clearly shown inV Fig. 1 and Fig. 7

Since the tcp of the table has its ends free or disconnected from the end' frame members, the collapse of the rigid frame parts of the device to the position shown in Fig. 5, permits the adjacent part of the top of the table to assume the positionshown in Figs. 5-7 inclusive.

In this position the top of the table has a general U-shape and only one of the reinforcing members IQ is located directly adjacent the collapsed frame. The parts of the frame may be made of wood, metal or any other suitable material.`

While I have referred to a collapsible table having legs, the invention is not necessarily limited to the use of legs, and I do not wish to limit the construction disclosed herein, for any specific purpose. Y

Likewise, while I have disclosed a frame which has a general rectangular shape when the same is extended, I do not Wish to be limited to this particular shape.

By connecting the top of the table, only to some of the frame members, such as the frame members I, it is possible to collapse the device while 5 keeping the top thereof wholly external to the collapsed frame, as shown in Fig. 6.

It is clear that the permanent fastening members I2 and I3 could be replaced by detachable fastening members if desired. Likewise the ends 10 of the top of the table could be connected to the end frame members by means of detachable fastening devices, if desired.

While I have shown a plurality of reinforcing members I0, it would not be departing from the l5 invention if I used only a single reinforcing member I0 to which the second reinforcing member Ita is turnably connected.

Referring to Fig. 6, this shows the end frame members substantially parallel to each other and 20 substantiallyvparallel toy side frame members I. Likewise, Fig. 1 shows that hinges`24 are above the pivots Band 1. Fig. 6 shows that when the table is collapse-d, the legs 2 and 3 are arranged in superposed pairs which are superposed rela- 25 tive to the end frame members. The height of the, side frame members is lsubstantially equal to the combined heights of the legs and end frame members.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my 30.5 invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions can be made without departing from its spirit.

I claim:

1. A collapsible table, comprising side framezzf members, llegs pivotally connected to the inner"` sides of said side Vframe members., said legs beingf, pivotally connected to their respective-side frame. members at points which are spaced unequally; from the bottom edges of said side frame mem.-A 40;. bers, so that said legs can be turned until they, are substantially parallel to each other and substantially parallel to said side frame members, end frame members turnably connected to each other and connected to said side frame mem- 45g bers above the pivots of said legs, said end frame members being turnable inwardly so that the table can be collapsed with said' legs arranged in l, superposed pairs, each pair of 'legs and a pair.- of end frame members being then in superposed 50e relation.

2. A collapsible table, comprising side Yframe members, legs pivotally connected to the inner sides of said side frame members, `said legsbeing pivotally connected to their respective side frame 55 members at points which are spaced unequally from the bottom edges of said side frame mem-i bers, so that said legs can be turned until they are substantially parallel to` each other and substantially parallel to said side frame members, 60 end frame. members. turnably connected .tov each other and connected to said side frame members above the pivots of said legs, said end frame. members being turnable inwardly so that the table can be collapsed with said legs arranged in. 65 superposed pairs, each Ypair of legs anda pairof end frame members being then in superposed relation, theheight ofthe side members being at least equal, tothe heights of said legs and to the heightfrof an end frame member, when the table 70.. is collapsed.

CHARLESy GOLDEN.- 

